At a Glance
Median Income
$55,799
$27,794 per capita
Home Value
$225,900
Zillow: $245,696
Median Rent
$1,060/mo
43.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
325/100K
2,118/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.0%
87.5% high school+
Unemployment
2.8%
19.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
43.9%
17.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
74°F
330 sunny days/yr
How Lake Wales Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Lake Wales's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Lake Wales a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Lake Wales residents earn a median household income of $55,799 , which is 26% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $27,794. The unemployment rate stands at 2.8% (22% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 19.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 17,281 business establishments, including 1,064 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Lake Wales is $225,900 , 20% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $245,696. Median rent is $1,060/month, with 43.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 103.4 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1989.
Safety & Crime
Lake Wales reports 325 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 14% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,118/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
22.0% of adults in Lake Wales hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(35% below the national average).
87.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Lake Wales has an average annual temperature of 74°F (23°C).
Winters average 62°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 52.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.
Data Overview
People
Population16,365
Median Age41.1 yrs
Density806/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans9.5%
Economy
B
Median Income$55,799
Per Capita$27,794
Unemployment2.8%
Poverty19.6%
County GDP$44,304M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,071
Housing
A
Home Value$225,900
Rent$1,060
Ownership61.0%
Zillow$245,696
Housing Units8,181
Rent Burden43.5%
Crime
F
Violent325/100K
Property2,118/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault272/100K
Burglary320/100K
Health
Obesity43.9%
Diabetes13.5%
Smoking17.8%
Heart Disease6.8%
Premature Death9,798/100K
Climate
Avg Temp74°F
Sunny Days330/yr
Rain52.8 in/yr
AQI41 (Good)
Elevation133 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+22.0%
High School+87.5%
Graduate+7.8%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 60% / D 39%
Commute26 min
Broadband82.2%
Internet Speed134 Mbps
EV Stations5
Libraries19
Did You Know?
The median home in Lake Wales was built in 1989.
The nearest airport is Winter Haven Regional (14 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.447 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
17.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 134 Mbps.
There are 1,064 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 121 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.
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